The Schedule Looks Favorable for the Dodgers to Make a Move

If there ever was a time for the Dodgers to put together a prolonged winning streak, now is the time.  NL west rivals all seem to be hitting tough stretches in the schedule and the Dodgers are no exception to that rule, but the time to make a move is now.

The first place Diamondbacks (42-35)  continue a tough road trip with 2 more in Washington, a weekend series in Atlanta and four in New York with the Mets.  They then follow up with a home series that includes the Padres and Dodgers.  I seriously look for the D-Backs to fall back into the pack.

The reeling Giants (38-39), losers of ten out of their last fourteen games and five of six, will play three in Colorado after facing Kershaw at Chavez Ravine tonight.  They then travel to Cincinnati to face the hot Reds for four before returning to their China Basin ballpark to face the Dodgers again and then the Mets.  Watch for the Giants to fall significantly under .500 by the time this road trip is over.

Rockie Shortstop Troy Tulowitski is healing from broken ribs and should be out of action until after the All Star break (photo by David Zalubowski/AP)

The Rockies (39-39), finish off their road trip in Boston today before returning home to face a makeup game with the Mets and then series’ with the Giants and Dodgers.  The Rockies then head off on the road again to play NL West foes Arizona, Los Angeles and San Diego, all before the All Star break.  It’ll be a crucial two weeks for the Rocks who will have to do it without their best player, Troy Tulowitski.

Then there are the Padres (39-39).  A team that has surprised us all, but also dealing with a plentiful amount of injuries.  The Friars have one more home game with Philadelphia before heading off on the road to take on a resurgent Marlins team for four, a three game set at Fenway with the Bosox and three in the nation’s capital against the Nationals.  It'll be a tough roadie to say the least.

So as the Dodgers continue on their longest winning streak of the year, they couldn’t have picked a better time for it as all of the NL West foes are hitting a rough patch on their schedules.  Getting healthy couldn’t have been timed better.  This is a time to make a move.

Matt Kemp celebrates after making the game winning catch in last night's action against the Giants, his first game back from the disabled list (photo by Mark J. Terrill/AP)

It won't be easy as the Dodgers have one more with the Giants and then four at home with the Phillies.  They then take off on the road against the Rockies (3), Giants (3) and Diamondbacks (3) before returning home for three against Colorado again before the  break for the mid summer classic.  All are games against teams ahead of them, giving them ample opportunity to move up in the standings.